Overview
| Stage | Production |
| Mine Type | Underground |
| Commodities |
|
| Mining Method |
- Sub-level open stoping (SLOS)
- Longhole open stoping
- Paste backfill
|
| Production Start | ...  |
| Mine Life | 2030 |
Source:
p. 7
Dundee Precious Metals Chelopech EAD, which produces a gold-copper concentrate containing gold, copper and silver, and a pyrite concentrate containing gold, from its Chelopech mine located east of Sofia, Bulgaria, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dundee Precious Metals Inc.
Contractors
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Deposit Type
- Epithermal
- Breccia pipe / Stockwork
- Vein / narrow vein
Summary:
The Chelopech region consists of a Precambrian metamorphic basement consisting of gneisses, amphibolites, and metasediments overlain by Upper Cretaceous, volcano-sedimentary sequences which include the Chelopech Formation; the primary host to mineralisation. The Chelopech Formation reaches thicknesses of up to 2,000 m and consists of Lower and Upper units.
Mineralisation is hosted within the Lower Chelopech Formation and is characterised by typical epithermal, high-sulphidation (HS) alteration. Alteration and mineralisation are typically zonal with central, high-grade units associated with well-developed stockworks and massive sulphide mineralisation. These units are surrounded by lower-grade haloes dominated by disseminated sulphides and pervasive silica overprinting. These two zones are respectively referred to as “Stockwork” and “Silica Envelopes” and are used as hard boundaries during the estimation of Mineral Resources.
Mineralisation
Three successive mineralisation stages have been recognised at Chelopech, including an early iron- sulphur stage consisting mainly of disseminated and massive pyrite, a second copper-arsenic-sulphur stage which is the economic copper and gold stage, and a late lead-zinc stage. These display different geometries, including veins, breccias, massive and disseminated sulphides.
The mineralisation occurs in a range of different morphologies, including lens-like, pipe-like and columnar bodies that typically ........
Mining Methods
- Sub-level open stoping (SLOS)
- Longhole open stoping
- Paste backfill
Summary:
Underground mining production is performed using sublevel long-hole open stoping methods. The various orebodies are developed at nominal 30 m vertical intervals and accessed by major declines in both the Western and Central areas. Stopes are designed to be 20 m wide between the levels. The length of the stope depends on the geotechnical conditions, but can range between 20 m and 60 m. The most recent trend of stope design is to keep a 20–30 m length and 60 m height, where geological and geotechnical conditions are suitable. This allows for improvement in ore handling and dust suppression during ore mucking because of shorter remote loading. Ore is delivered via ore passes, or via trucks, to the ROM bin above the crusher. The crusher feeds up to 400 tph to a system of eight conveyors, to transport the ore to the surface stockpile.
Once mined via an “end-slice” methodology, stopes are backfilled with “paste-fill” produced from the mill tailings to which cement is added and which is gravity fed underground via a system of borehole and pipes to the stopes being filled.
Multiple horizons are designed in each ore body so that multiple stopes can be in production at any one time. Simulations have shown that at least six stopes shall need to be producing ore to maintain ore production of 2.2 Mtpa, with up to 22 stopes being drilled, “mucked” and filled at any one time.
Mine Ventilation
The ventilation system has been in a stable configuration ........
Source:
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Flow Sheet:
Summary:
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Production:
| Commodity | Product | Units | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|
Gold
|
Metal in concentrate
|
koz
| ...... ^ | ...... | ...... | ...... | 201 | 198 | 166 |
|
Copper
|
Metal in copper conc.
|
M lbs
| ...... ^ | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... |
|
Copper
|
Concentrate
|
kt
| | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... |
|
Silver
|
Metal in copper conc.
|
oz
| | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... |
|
Pyrite
|
Concentrate
|
kt
| | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... |
^ Guidance / Forecast.
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Operational Metrics:
| Metrics | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
|
Tonnes processed
| ...... | ...... | ...... | 2,203,242 t | 2,216,753 t | 2,218,717 t |
|
Ore tonnes mined
| ...... | ...... | ...... | 2,211,067 t | 2,211,557 t | 2,232,799 t |
|
Annual production capacity
| ...... | ...... | ...... | 400,000 t of pyrite concentrate | 400,000 t of pyrite concentrate | 400,000 t of pyrite concentrate |
|
Annual processing capacity
| ...... | ...... | ...... | 2.2 Mt | 2.2 Mt | 2.2 Mt |
^ Guidance / Forecast.
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Reserves at December 31, 2021:
Mineral Reserves are based on a NSR-less-costs cut-off value of US$0/t. The total cost applied was approximately $45/t which is a sum of operational costs of approximately $40/t (variable by stope location) and sustaining capital of $5/t.
Mineral Resources are based on a NSR-less-costs cut-off of US$0/t. The total cost applied was approximately $45/t which is a sum of operational costs of approximately $40/t and sustaining capital of $5/t.
| Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Metal |
|
Proven & Probable
|
19.3 Mt
|
Gold
|
2.72 g/t
|
1.7 M oz
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
19.3 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.8 %
|
341.9 M lbs
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
19.3 Mt
|
Silver
|
7.6 g/t
|
4.72 M oz
|
|
Measured & Indicated
|
13.8 Mt
|
Gold
|
2.84 g/t
|
1.258 M oz
|
|
Measured & Indicated
|
13.8 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.89 %
|
270 M lbs
|
|
Measured & Indicated
|
13.8 Mt
|
Silver
|
10.56 g/t
|
4.679 M oz
|
|
Inferred
|
2.9 Mt
|
Gold
|
2.36 g/t
|
0.223 M oz
|
|
Inferred
|
2.9 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.82 %
|
53 M lbs
|
|
Inferred
|
2.9 Mt
|
Silver
|
9.2 g/t
|
0.869 M oz
|
| Type | Material | Diameter | Length | Description |
Corporate Filings & Presentations:
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